Report 2012-121.2 Recommendation 5 Responses

Report 2012-121.2: Department of Parks and Recreation: Flaws in Its Budget Allocation Processes Hinder Its Ability to Effectively Manage the Park System (Release Date: September 2013)

Recommendation #5 To: Parks and Recreation, Department of

To ensure that it can comply with state law in the event that it must close parks or reduce park services in the future, the department should improve its methodology for developing individual park unit budgets and determining and tracking park-level costs. Specifically, the department should provide training as soon as possible to park operations staff to ensure that they consistently collect the data necessary for phase two.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From September 2015

In addition to the already mentioned March 2014 training, another training was held in February 2015 for District Administrative Officers and their staff. This packet also includes information on how to input park unit function/costing. Park Unit Costing is a subcomponent of the Department's Fiscal Tracking System, and was explained as part of the Fiscal Tracking System training. See the Fiscal Tracking Systems packet. This information can also be found on the Department's Intranet page and is readily available from the Fiscal Systems Support Unit as well.

1-Year Agency Response

In addition to the initial training the Administrative Division provided Park Unit Cost training to the Administrative Officers and their staff on March 17 through March 20, 2014 at our Parks' McClellan Training Center.

Completion Date: September 2014

Response Date: September 2014

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status:
Pending

Although it asserts that it has provided training, the department did not provide us with evidence of the training, such as attendance sheets or training materials.

Auditee did not substantiate its claim of full implementation

6-Month Agency Response

In January 2014, the Department released its Park Unit Costing Report. The increased level of fiscal information provided in this report and in the future will allow for a greater understanding regarding how departmental funding is allocated amongst the various State parks in support of Californias State Park System. Park operations staff were provided guidance and training during the initial data collection process and we will provide ongoing training as we refine this process.

Estimated Completion Date: 12/31/2014

Response Date: March 2014

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status:
Pending

60-Day Agency Response

After receipt of the Audit Report the Department met with Administrative Officers via a conference call to determine which Administrative Officers felt the need for additional training on collecting and tracking park unit costs. Any Administrative Officers requesting additional training were contacted individually to have their specific questions answered. The Department is confident that all employees involved in the tracking and input of costs at the Park Unit Level have been trained.

Completion Date: September 2013

Response Date: November 2013

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status:
Pending

Although the department asserts that it had a conference call with administrative officers to determine the need for additional training, it did not provide details of the discussion or documentation for the basis it used to determine that all employees have been adequately training to consistently collect the data necessary for phase two.